Is the UK brass band movement doing its bit to promote new music being written and performed?
There are more new (as in not been there/around before) composers commissioned every year at the proms than we have had writing for bands in total across the last 5 years. If there was that much more new music about, we could even think about stretching “Listen To The Band” on Radio 2, to a whole 35 minutes! Then, they could air just two works of some significance of 17 minutes each! (Spot the distinct air of levity here). In comparison, Classic fm broadcasts 24/7 with all the classical gumph you’re fed up hearing. Lets all cry “repertoire imbalance”. We must commission more at all levels of banding. I guess there will be only 8 to 10 (if lucky) bands in the UK will premier a new piece this year under mediocre profile/PR and I’m talking of a substantial original work for band of more than 8/9 minutes for any section/standard. Of course there will always be new works tried by local bands and composers, but I’m really talking about works that will enter into the major repertoire on all l
